Medicare rates for orthotic and prosthetic coverage threatened!

Medicare rates for orthotic and prosthetic coverage threatened! The Senate is currently considering SB 3101. There have been discussions about including fee cuts for prostheses.
Home ACA Names New Editor and Senior Editor Knoxville, TN. -- Rick Bowers and Bill Dupes, employees in the Publications Department of the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), have been promoted to editor and senior editor, respectively. Shark-Attack Survivor Accepts National “Free Spirit” Honor Bethany Hamilton, a shark-attack survivor who overcame the loss of her left arm to return to the sport of surfing, has been acclaimed as a 2004 Free Spirit honoree. ADVOCACY UPDATE: Massachusetts Parity Bill ADVOCACY UPDATE: Estimate of Number of Persons Living with Limb Loss in NY State “The Best Thing in the World” Raised in a small, supportive community, Jaymie Kraus didn’t learn about the adversities and opportunities of people with limb differences until she became an adult Colorado - Prosthetic and Orthotic Adult Benefit Summary Providing Medicaid coverage for prosthetics saves money for states Massachusetts Financial Impact Statement for Prosthetic Coverage Review and evaluation of proposed legislation to mandate coverage for certain prosthetic devices: H. 837 Colorado - Prosthetic and Orthotic Adult Benefit Full Report Providing Medicaid coverage for prosthetics saves money for states. NY Parity Bill introduced to NY Senate & Assembly If we are to get these bills passed in this and other states we have to make a bigger noise than other groups also looking for mandates! APPLL Update: State Parity - May/June 2005 inMotion Bidding Demonstration: Setting the Record Straight for Prosthetic Consumers Do's and Don'ts of A Legislative Visit Steps to Effective Advocacy How Can I Get Help From My Congressional Representatives? ADVOCACY NEWS: Licensure vs. Certification: How It Can Affect You! Computerized Limb Coverage: A Letter to Practitioners and Bibliography The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) has joined together with manufacturers of myoelectric and computerized devices, and beneficiary representatives, to work on reversing certain imprudent medical policies regarding coverage of these de The Power of Peers This article looks at the importance of peers in providing guidance and emotional support when faced with an amputation. Peer Visitor Support of Recent U.S. Military Amputees This article takes a look at the peer visitation program in place at the Amputee Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Facing Amputation Surgery: The Value of Peer Contact This article talks about the value of peer support for amputees. Funding Raising for Your Support Group This fact sheet discusses support group member involvement in fundraising. Ideas for different types of fundraisers are included as well. Starting a Support Group: The Basics Starting a support group is a responsibility, a challenge, and a very meaningful experience. This fact sheet offers a listing of some basic steps needed to start a support group. Steps were compiled from successful support groups and organizations all ove Understanding ACA's Peer Network This fact sheet offers an explanation of ACA's national peer network. Details covered include the network's purpose and how it works, as well as the required training for peer visitors. Giving Back - Couples Who Peer Visit This article takes a brief look at couples that do peer visitation as part of the Amputee Coalition of America's National Peer Network. When Your Support Group Needs Support This article takes a brief look at resources for support groups. You Don't Have to Deal With Amputation Alone This article takes a brief look at the Amputee Coalition of America's National Peer Network. Peer Contact for Parents of Children with Congenital Amputation Karen Neimanas discusses the role of peer visitor when parents are confronted with the birth of a child with a congenital limb difference. Notes from the medical director: first and foremost, listen!: lessons learned from mentors and peer visitors Doug Smith, ACA Medical Director, discusses the important role that mentors can play in our lives and how a peer visitor can become a mentor. Communicator: Newsletter for amputee support group leaders This site contains links to both HTML and PDF versions of the Communicator newsletter published for amputee support group leaders. On-line communication resources for those with limb loss Resources for amputees or family members of amputees who would like to communicate with other amputees via Internet bulletin boards or e-mail lists. APPLL Executive Summary Learn about ACA's Action Plan for Persons with Limb Loss (APPLL) Advocating For Your Child ACA Announces New Publication for Parents The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is proud to announce the release of Expectations: Parenting Children and Teens With Limb Differences. This 36-page resource guide addresses some of the issues parents face after giving birth to a baby with a limb dif Cancer Was The Easy Part ACA Names New Staff Writer ACA announces the appointment of Scott McNutt as staff writer. A Circle of Friends - The Power of Peer Support Medicare Independent Living Act of 2007 (HR 1809) The “Medicare Independent Living Act of 2007” (HR 1809), a bill to modify Medicare’s restriction on “in the home” mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters. CALL TO ACTION - Stop Implementation of Harmful Medicare Wheelchair Policies! TAKE ACTION! Medicare plans to implement several changes to its mobility device benefit that will prevent access to high-functioning power wheelchairs. TAKE ACTION TODAY to save important ACA programs! We need to override the president's veto of important educational programs, including the NLLIC! (ACA's information center) WISCONSIN: Urge Rep. Tom Petri to sponsor the federal parity bill! We need your help to get Rep. Petri on board for the federal parity campaign. THANK or SCOLD your representative for their vote on the Appropriations bill! Thank you to the ACA members who took action yesterday. Make sure to hold your rep. accountable for their vote! Help Fix Medicare's "In the Home" Restriction! Support the Medicare Independent Living Act of 2007 (HR 1809). DELAWARE: Urge Rep. Mike Castle to sponsor the federal parity bill! We need your help to get Rep. Castle on board for the federal parity campaign. Urge Rep. Vern Ehlers of Michigan to sponsor the federal parity bill! We need your help to get Rep. Ehlers on board for the federal parity campaign. LOUISIANA: Urge Rep. Charles Boustany to sponsor the federal parity bill! We need your help to get Rep. Boustany on board for the federal parity campaign. NEW JERSEY: Next Step is the U.S. Congress! We need your help to thank Rep. Rob Andrews for his work to support state parity. New Jersey: Next Step is the US Congress! ARKANSAS: Urge Rep. Ross to support the federal parity bill! We need Rep. Ross' support for the federal bill. Take action! ARIZONA: Urge Rep. Grijalva and Rep. Shadegg to support parity! We are looking to secure Rep. Grijalva and Rep. Shadegg as co-sponsors. Take action! CALIFORNIA: Help us launch the federal parity bill! We need the support of California lawmakers. Help us today! COLORADO: Urge Rep. DeGette to support parity! We need your help to secure Rep. DeGette as a co-sponsor of the federal bill. FLORIDA: Urge Rep. Stearns to stand up for parity! We need your help to secure Keller and Stearns as co-sponsors. GEORGIA: Tell Rep. Deal, Rep. Price and Rep. Barrow that you support parity! We need the support of Barrow, Price and Deal. Contact them today. HAWAII: Urge Rep. Mazie Hirono to sign onto the parity bill! We are looking to get Rep. Hirono on as an original co-sponsor, but we need your help! IOWA: Contact Rep. Loebsack and ask for his support! We are looking to get Rep. Loebsack to co-sponsor the federal parity bill. ILLINOIS: We need your help to sign-on federal co-sponsors! There are several IL lawmakers we are looking to secure as sponsors. Take action! NEW JERSEY: You can help us introduce the federal parity bill! We are looking to identify co-sponsors from New Jersey for the federal bill. NEW YORK: Help secure support for the federal parity bill! We are working to add co-sponsors from New York onto the federal parity bill. TEXAS: Federal push for parity! We are pursuing a number of Texas lawmakers to be original co-sponsors of the federal prosthetic parity bill. OKLAHOMA: Urge Coburn and Sullivan to support parity! We are pursuing Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) to be co-sponsors of the federal prosthetic parity bill. NORTH CAROLINA: We need your help! We are pursuing Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) to be co-sponsors of the prosthetic parity bill. OHIO: Urge Brown & Kucinich to support parity! We are pursuing Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to be co-sponsors of the federal prosthetic parity bill. NEW MEXICO: Urge Rep. Wilson and Sen. Bingaman to support parity! We are pursuing Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) to be co-sponsors of the prosthetic parity bill. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Urge Sen. Reed to support parity! We are pursuing Senator Jack Reed (D-NH) as an original co-sponsor of the federal prosthetic parity bill. TAKE ACTION: Tell your member of Congress to support prosthetic parity! The Prosthetic Parity Act was just introduced into the 110th Congress of the United States of America as HR 5615!! Act now to help pass federal legislation to protect access to prosthetic care. TAKE ACTION: Continue the momentum behind the federal parity bill! Rep. Andrews and Rep. Balart are working to sign on additional supporters. They need your help! MEMORIAL DAY: Take 5 minutes to make a difference over the Memorial Day holiday! On May 24th, members of Congress will head home for the Memorial Recess. CAMPAIGN BUILDING: Join our online communities! The ACA campaign is reaching out to activists through MySpace and Facebook. TAKE ACTION: Help us get YOUR representative on board for HR 5615! We need you to reach out to your representative and senators to urge them to support the federal prosthetic parity act (HR 5615). NORTH CAROLINA: Urge Sen. Dole to help introduce the federal parity bill in the US Senate! We need your help to make sure we get a version introduced this year into the Senate. Contact Senator Dole today! TAKE ACTION: Help override the President’s veto of the Medicare bill! We need your help TODAY on an important Medicare issue. Take action now! IL: Tell Rep. Biggert to support parity! (we did!) On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Biggert (R-IL). TN: Tell Rep. Davis to support parity! (we did!) On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Davis (R-TN). NC: Tell Rep. Foxx to support parity! (we did!) BREAKING NEWS: On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Foxx (R-NC). MI: Tell Rep. Hoekstra & Rep. Walberg to support parity! (we did!) On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) & Rep. Walberg (R-MI). FL: Tell Rep. Keller to support parity! (we did!) BREAKING NEWS: On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Keller (R-FL). MN: Tell Rep. Kline to support parity! (we did!) BREAKING NEWS: On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Kline (R-MN). NY: Tell Rep. Kuhl to support parity! (we did!) On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Kuhl (R-NY). WA: Tell Rep. McMorris Rodgers to support parity! (we did!) On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). GA: Tell Rep. Price to support parity! (we did!) BREAKING NEWS: On July 22nd, ACA staff and board members met with health care aides from the offices of members of the House Committee for Education and Labor including Rep. Price (R-GA). CO: We need your help NOW to get the federal bill introduced in the Senate Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) is seriously considering becoming a co-sponsor of the senate version of the prosthetic parity bill. We need your help to make sure we get a version introduced into the Senate THIS YEAR. This will make it much easier to advance IL: We need your help NOW to get the federal bill introduced in the Senate this year! Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is seriously considering becoming co-sponsors of the senate version of the prosthetic parity bill. We need your help to make sure we get a version introduced into the Senate THIS YEAR. This will make it much easier to advan TN: We need your help NOW to get the federal bill introduced in the Senate this year! Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) is seriously considering becoming a co-sponsor of the senate version of the prosthetic parity bill. Thanks to our July meeting in DC and the help of our activists in Tennessee, Rep. David Davis (R-TN) has recently signed on NC: We need your help NOW to get the federal bill introduced in the Senate this year! Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) is seriously considering becoming the lead sponsor of the senate version of the prosthetic parity bill. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) is also considering becoming a co-sponsor of this bill. We need your help to make sure we ge IA: We need your help NOW to get the federal bill introduced in the Senate this year! Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is seriously considering being the lead sponsor of the senate version of the prosthetic parity bill. We need your help to make sure we get a version introduced into the Senate THIS YEAR. This will make it much easier to advance ME: We need your help TODAY to get the federal bill introduced in the Senate this year! Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) are seriously considering becoming co-sponsors of the senate version of the prosthetic parity bill. We need your help to make sure we get a version introduced into the Senate THIS YEAR. ADA Amendments Act: Working to end discrimination against people with disabilities! The Senate recently voted on a bill to protect the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Just a few days left in the Senate parity fight! A historic bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate on September 18th. Take action today! TAKE ACTION: Just a few days left in the Senate push for parity! The Senate adjourns on Sept 26th. Let's go out with a bang! Help us get your senators on board TODAY! TAKE ACTION today to support the federal parity bill! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THE FEDERAL PARITY BILL RE-INTRODUCED AND KEEP IT MOVING!!! FEDERAL PARITY: Take action locally! HEALTHCARE REFORM: Send an e-mail to your members of Congress TODAY! FEDERAL PARITY: Help secure additional co-sponsors for HR 2575! HEALTH CARE REFORM: Call your members of Congress and insist that prosthetic devices are included in healthcare reform! NATIONAL CALL-IN DAYS: Urge Congress to protect amputee care in healthcare reform! Advocacy Update, 7/9/09 Advocacy Update, 7/9/09 ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Joins Family Voices in Working to Support Family-to-Family Health Information Centers ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Joins Family Voices in Working to Support Family-to-Family Health Information Centers ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Working to Ensure that Amputees are Not Left Behind in Health Reform ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Working to Ensure that Amputees are Not Left Behind in Health Reform ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Signs on in Support of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009 ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Signs on in Support of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009 OPAF Launches McKeever’s First Ride ADVOCACY NEWS: Senate HELP Protects Access to Assistive Devices ADVOCACY NEWS: Senate HELP Protects Access to Assistive Devices ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA and Partners Applaud the Inclusiveness of the Affordable Health Choices Act ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA and Partners Applaud the Inclusiveness of the Affordable Health Choices Act Connecticut: Vote on Monday. Take action TODAY! ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Celebrates Progress in the Campaign for Hate Crimes Protections for People with Disabilities ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Celebrates Progress in the Campaign for Hate Crimes Protections for People with Disabilities Amputee Coalition Youth Camp Shows Young Amputees That They Can Do Anything, Anywhere Donate now and help support this inspirational program ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Joins Allies in Pushing for Patient Centered Approach to Comparative Effectiveness Research ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Joins Allies in Pushing for Patient Centered Approach to Comparative Effectiveness Research ADVOCACY NEWS: Progress in the Efforts to Protect Assistive Devices in Healthcare Reform ADVOCACY NEWS: Progress in the Efforts to Protect Assistive Devices in Healthcare Reform ADVOCACY NEWS: Progress and Problems in the Campaign for Hate Crimes Protections for People with Disabilities ADVOCACY NEWS: Progress and Problems in the Campaign for Hate Crimes Protections for People with Disabilities Double amputee loses legs, finds a cause HEALTH CARE REFORM: Call your members today! HEALTHCARE REFORM: Take action during the August recess! ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Seeks Government Relations Specialist to Help Lead Policy Efforts ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Seeks Government Relations Specialist to Help Lead Policy Efforts ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Partners With AOPA and Hanger to Call for True Healthcare Reform ADVOCACY NEWS: ACA Partners With AOPA and Hanger to Call for True Healthcare Reform Winslow Therapeutic Riding to Host McKeever’s First Ride TAKE ACTION TODAY! Push for true healthcare reform! Members of Congress Receive Legislative Awards From National Amputee Organizations Ossur Commits $20,000 to Amputee Coalition of America’s Parity Campaign Ossur Commits $20,000 to Amputee Coalition of America’s Parity Campaign Amputee Coalition of America's Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp Announced Knoxville, TN, October 9, 2009 – The Amputee Coalition of America announced that it has named its youth camp in honor of the organization’s former president & CEO, Paddy Rossbach. Amputee Coalition of America's Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp Announced Knoxville, TN, October 9, 2009 – The Amputee Coalition of America announced that it has named its youth camp in honor of the organization’s former president & CEO, Paddy Rossbach. Get Ready for National Family Caregivers Month in November November 2009 celebrates National Family Caregivers Month, a time to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers – those individuals providing care to loved ones living with chronic illness, disability or the frailties of old age. Mending Limbs Organization to Hold Second Annual Benefit Concert Event to raise awareness of need for adequate prosthetic insurance coverage for amputees	Medicare reimbursement for orthotic and prosthetic coverage could be frozen or cut in order to pay for the delay of competitive bidding in the 2008 Medicare Bill. Prosthetics and orthotics is NOT included in competitive bidding, and it would be profoundly unfair for Congress to pay for a delay in competitive bidding by reducing Medicare payments to amputees and other disabled seniors, including disabled veterans, as well as disabled children. The Senate is currently considering SB 3101. There have been discussions about including fee cuts for prostheses. Please do not permit the Senate to unfairly make prosthetics and orthotics accept Medicare fee cuts to pay for the totally unrelated problems of a DME Competitive Bidding Delay. Click here to learn more. TAKE ACTION! We need you to call your senators and representative TODAY in order to protect Medicare coverage for prosthetic and orthotic care. Click here to find the information for your Congressperson. We have included a sample phone message and sample e-mail/letter. Please, take action today! SAMPLE PHONE MESSAGE: Hello. My name is _____. I am from _____. I am calling in regards to Senate Bill 3101, sponsored by Senator Max Baucus. The Senate is currently considering this bill as part of the debate around the 2008 Medicare Bill. There have been discussions about including fee cuts for prostheses. Please do not permit the Senate to unfairly make prosthetics and orthotics accept Medicare fee cuts to pay for the totally unrelated problems of a DME Competitive Bidding Delay. SAMPLE LETTER Dear Representative/Senator, I am writing in regards to Senate Bill 3101, sponsored by Senator Max Baucus. The Senate is currently considering this bill as part of the debate around the 2008 Medicare Bill. There have been discussions about including fee cuts for prostheses. Prosthetics and orthotics is NOT included in competitive bidding, and it would be profoundly unfair for Congress to pay for a delay in competitive bidding by reducing Medicare payments to amputees and other disabled seniors, including disabled veterans, as well as disabled children. Orthotics and Prosthetics are included in DME for administrative purposes in Medicare, but unlike DME, much of what is done by orthotic and prosthetic suppliers is one of kind or custom fitted. The Orthotics and Prosthetics fee schedule should not be included in a way to pay for a delay or repeal of competitive bidding since those products are not now part of competitive bidding. It would not be fair to include orthotic and prosthetic products since they are not now in competitive bidding. Orthotic and prosthetics has a separate fee schedule in Medicare and it would be an easy drafting error to frame the text too broadly, and include ALL of DMEPOS in the “pay for,” when in fact only the DME fee schedule should be adjusted, and there should be no impact or change on the P&O (prosthetics and orthotics) fee schedule. Please do not permit the Senate to unfairly make prosthetics and orthotics accept Medicare fee cuts to pay for the totally unrelated problems of a DME Competitive Bidding Delay. Sincerely, NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE
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